Spike-extractor



UNITED i STATES PATENT OEEICE.

`JOSEPH XV. PITTS, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

SPIKE-EXTRAcToR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,102, dated April14, 1896 Application filed october s, 1894..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. PITTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State of Georgia,have invented anew and useful Spike- Extractor, of which the followingis a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in spike-extractors.

The object of the present invention is to improve Vthe construction ofspike-extractors, to provide a simple and inexpensive one which willlenable railway-spikes to be withdrawn from cross-ties without bending orotherwise injuring` them, and to afford a firm bearing for the heel ofthe lever, and to prevent the same from crushing or otherwise injuringthe pivot by relieving the latter of the heavy strain incident toextracting a spike.,

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

lnthe drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a spike-extractorconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of the lower portion or claw end of the spike-extractor.Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detailperspective view of theclaw end of the leven illustrating` theconstruction of the heel. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of thebearing-block. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the arrangement ofthe spurs of the bearing-block.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

l designates a lever provided at one end with a slightly-curvedspike-engaging claw 2 and having a depending rounded heel 3, connectedby a neck portion 4 with the lever and extending transversely of thelever the entire width of the latter. The depending heel is providedwith a central transverse perforation, through which passes a pivot 5,which is also arranged in perforations 6 of upwardextending ears 7 of abearing-block. 8, substantially rectangular. y

The bearing-block 8 is provided with a concave upper face 9, whichconforms to the rounded portion of the heel and provides a Serial No.525,288. (No model.)

bearing for the same, and the ears extend upward at the ends of theheel. The recess of the bearing-block isV struck on the same curve asthe periphery of the substantially cylindrical or rounded heel. Thebearingblock extends upward in front and in rear of the heel and forms asocket for the same to prevent any longitudinal movement of the lever,and this, together with the flat lower face of the bearing-block,produces a steady upward movement in a spike. The perforations 6 of theears are sufficiently greater in diameter than the pivot 5 to permit theheel in withdrawing a spike to rest upon and be supported by the concaveupper face of the bearing-block, whereby all strain is removed from thepivot, and the latter is prevented from being broken.

Owing to the particular form of the semicylindrical socket of thebearing-block 8 and the rounded heel the spike-extractor is capable ofoperation without employing` the pivot, the latter serving, merely, as aconnection to prevent the separation of the parts when thespike-extractor is not in actual use.

The neck 4t sufficiently offsets the lever from the bearing-block andcauses the claw to have a curved movement suflicient to extract a spikewithout bending or otherwise injuring the same.

In order to prevent any liability of the bearing-block slipping whileextracting a spike, the said bearing-block is provided on its lower facewith spurs 10, which are formed integral with the'block and which embedthemselves in the cross-tie. y

The bearing-block or fulcrum 8 when the spike-extractor is first placedin position rests on the two rear spurs to draw a spike, thus throwingthe strain forward until the spike is drawn.

It will be seen that the spike-extractor is simple and comparativelyinexpensive in construction, that it possesses great strength anddurability, and that it is capable of withdrawing spikes from cross-tieswithout bending or otherwise injuring them. Changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted towithout departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the`advantages of this invention.

IOO

ing block formed With a semicylindrical socket or bearing-seat in itsupper side proi viding opposing shoulders for preventing the tendency ofthe heel to ride out of its socket,

upwardly-proj ecting ears embracing the ends o the heel, and a stay-pinpassing through said ears and also through the heel, said pin beingarranged in concentric relation to the socket or bearing-seat in thebase-block, substantially as and for the purpose specified,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as iny own I have hereto affixedmy signature in Ethe presence of two Witnesses.

JOS. W. PITTS. Witnesses:

GEO. l. WILTCH, J. M. SToY.

